AIBU to think you should get dressed for a medical appointment

[Ducksbehindthesofa]

Following on from the PJs on a plane post earlier today, curious to hear the consensus on this.

I had the misfortune of winding up in A&E on New Year's Day and was amazed by the number of people in grubby nightwear, dressing gowns, and slippers in the waiting room. There was an enormous amount of groaning, coughing, sniffing and sneezing going on by most of the wearers, so I guess there was a lot of the winter lurgy going on.

And last week, whilst at my GP practice (small village surgery where nobody would live more than a few minutes away), there was a woman in the waiting room wearing a dressing gown and Ugg boots, accessorised with a washing-up bowl on her knee. She did have some make-up on though, so a point was added for effort.

It's just yeuch, isn't it? If you're well enough to drag yourself to a doctor or hospital, you're well enough to at least throw some clothes on.

And I know it's none of my business and it doesn't matter one jot to me really, but I don't have to like it!

What about colour blocking?

Do you also go for a striped pant at all?

Took my son in to a&e when he was 3 weeks old after being told to get there as fast as possible by 111. He had meningitis.

I was so scared I could have been butt naked and not cared. As it was I'm pretty sure I was wearing tracksuit bottoms but it was midnight so could have been PJ's. I probably looked like some slovenly mother I guess, I do beg your forgiveness.

Vertical or horizontal
?!

Had to sort out care for young family to leave on own could not take with me.

😱

I didn’t say you did, but other posters on here seem confident to say who is and isn’t attending for valid reasons on mere sight alone. Lots of people need to be there, even as a precaution, but might not look like it’s an emergency. It’s really not other patients business.

If you're well enough to drag yourself to a doctor or hospital, you're well enough to at least throw some clothes on.

Be glad that you have never been too ill to dress.

I have had to go to A&E twice, once in an ambulance in pants and dressing gown. I was unable to move to even to put pyjamas on. The second time I was taken in by my husband, the ambulance guys told him to take me. I couldn't get dressed to save my life I was so ill and nauseous and had a bowl. People probably judged me like you. I was eventually triaged and admitted ,I ended up in a very very poor state and remained in hospital for 3 weeks. Don't be so quick to judge.

I don't know about the makeup bit - I've been one to have makeup on and then took a funny turn. She more likely had makeup on before she was ill and actually too ill to take it off.

They still do. Where I work they do at least 1-2 visits per day each.

Ah racing!

I was in my PJ's when I broke my ankle. I showed and got dressed before I went in, with great difficulty. When I had my stroke I went in my PJ's.

I think you are right OP.

My dh was in a&e recently. In hindsight pyjamas would have been a better choice than clothes as he got admitted from a&e to a hospital ward, and I had to bring him pyjamas the next day.

I had to go to a&e in my pj’s with a severe burn on my leg , covered in cling film , and pj trousers were the only thing loose & comfy to wear- you shouldn’t be so judgmental

Wow you really are lacking in empathy and compassion OP!

I have a number of chronic illnesses/disabilities and had to go to the gp recently due to a horrificly painful bout of gastritis that had kept me up all night. I was given a lift by a friend and getting myself to the GP was literally ALL I was able to do! I had a coat on over my pjs and whilst I would never choose to not get dressed into day clothes to go "out", I was "decent" and I'm dismayed that people are so shallow as to be judgemental and offended by my attire when I'm seriously unwell or incapacitated!

Also consider that unfortunately some of those people in a&e may well have been brought in overnight by ambulance and had indeed been too unwell to get dressed and are still waiting to be seen!

Several different friends of mine have recently waited up to 24 hours in a&e to be seen by a doctor, despite having been brought in by ambulance very unwell with chest pains/having passed out/having an acute mh crisis yet still had to wait due to staff capacity rather than actual urgency... having their obs taken regularly in the waiting room etc. to ensure they're not deteriorating!

As for the lady with makeup on, maybe they just hadn't gotten round to taking it off after getting into Pjs?!! Or had been taken unwell whilst getting ready for the day. That would be my first couple of thoughts about that rather than "wow, they couldnt be bothered to get dressed but they could do their makeup".

Please do try to put your humanity on next time you are getting dressed for your medical appointments OP - and remember not everyone has the same luxury of ability and capacity to choose to get dressed in times of illness!

She's already apologised, save your angst. She got it wrong, she misjudged it.

We all make mistakes.

You’re right.

Hadn't seen that - Thanks for apologising OP and can see now you'd meant it lightheartedly. And I wish you all the best with your chemo and cancer journey x

And yes of course I am sure there are people who dont "need" to be in a&e etc.

I guess it hit a nerve because truthfully, noone really knows what a person is struggling with, however they may present. MY conditions are "invisible" and because I might not look obviously unwell or disabled to unkowing people, it may have looked like I "just couldn't be bothered" or had no self respect.⁸

I clicked on yabu as you do not know why that person hasn't got Dressed. Last year I was basically Housebound because of a severe skin condition for Months, and my clothes affected me and I'd only be able to wear Pyjamas. I attended GP appts and Hospital in my pyjamas, the severity of my condition I looked like I had Burns my skin, my immune system was really bad, I could only tolerate certain pyjamas.

I could link you to my pants thread where I ended up wearing knickers that said TWAT on them for an abdo scan…

That could work as a co-ord. Perhaps with a light belted coat thrown casually on top, and a soft mule..?

Made my morning, thank you 😁 😀 😃

Having once suffered a horrific injury which needed an emergency A&E visit while in just my pants, I'll point out... sometimes you don't get to chose when things happen!

Maybe she started being sick after she put her make up on!

You need to think about your attitude and judgement of people!

Is that all you can think of when someone is so sick they need a bowl?

Clearly you think you’re better than anyone else in A&E!

I currently laid up with a probable bulging disc. I can barely cough or fart without excruciating pain & if the ibuprofen doesn't work I'll have to drag on a tracksuit (somehow) & get my partner to take me to the GP or hospital. The Prada or Chanel clothing be damned.